How Am I Like Amulek?
Book of Mormon Notes - Saturday, August 19, 2023, Alma 10
After a brief interjection and introduction, Mormon quotes Amulek directly. Amulek gives his genealogy and from it we learn that Lehi was a descendent of Joseph through Manasseh. Early on in the Book of Mormon, in Nephi’s small plates, we learned that Lehi was a descendent of Joseph:
And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine. (1 Nephi 5:14)
But not until we receive Amulek’s testimony do we learn that Lehi was a descendent of Joseph through Manasseh. Manasseh was Joseph’s firstborn.
In Amulek’s genealogy we are also told of an important event that occurred in Nephite history that is not described anywhere else in the Book of Mormon record that has been translated and disseminated. In Alma’s record, the words of Amulek reveal that Book of Mormon authors, including Mormon, assumed that their future audience would be familiar with this story which may have been part of the lost 116 page manuscript:
I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was that same Aminadi who interpreted the awriting which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God. (Alma 10:2)
Mormon assumes that his future audience will be familiar with Aminadi and his interpretation of the writing which was upon the wall of the temple. This sounds like a very significant event in Nephite history, and that Aminadi, a direct descendent of Nephi, was a very significant figure in Nephite history. What did God write upon the wall of the Temple? What was Aminadi’s interpretation of what God wrote upon the wall of the Temple? Perhaps not until the lost manuscript is discovered, or other records come forth will we know more about this fascinating story.
In the meantime, it helps us to understand one of the most fascinating characters in the Book of Mormon: Amulek. Amulek stands out to me as a very important character whom Mormon chose to include and quote directly in his abridgment of the large plates of Nephi for a very important purpose.
Amulek came from pioneer stock. From Joseph to Manasseh to Lehi and Nephi to Aminadi to Ishmael and Giddonah, Amulek’s heritage was the heritage of the faithful. He was also a man of no small reputation, connections, and wealth. Both by wealth and ancestry, both by reputation and industry, Amulek was somewhat of a bigwig in the wicked city of Ammonihah. As I read about Amulek’s background and history, he reminds me of the many members of the Church that Elder Uchtdorf described in his talk “Learn from Alma and Amulek”. Elder Uchtdorf describes Amulek as follows:
Amulek was a well-to-do, well-known citizen of Ammonihah. Although he came from a long line of believers, his own faith had grown cold. He later confessed, “I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not [believe]; therefore I went on rebelling against God.”7
But God was preparing Amulek, and when Amulek met Alma, he welcomed the Lord’s servant into his home, where Alma stayed for many days.8 During that time, Amulek opened his heart to Alma’s message, and a marvelous change came over him. From then on, Amulek not only believed, but he also became a champion of truth.
When Alma went out again to teach among the people of Ammonihah, he had a second witness at his side—Amulek, one of their own.
The events that followed constitute one of the most bittersweet narratives in all of scripture. You can read about it in Alma chapters 8–16.
Today, I would like to ask you to consider two questions:
First: “What can I learn from Alma?”
Second: “How am I like Amulek?”
Obviously Elder Uchtdorf recognized the point that I am trying to make about Mormon’s decision to include Amulek and his words in his abridgment of Nephi’s large plates. Mormon knew that many in his latter-day audience would include people just like Amulek, well-to-do, well-known citizens whose faith had grown cold. I would add to this description the adjective “complacent”. Mormon knew that his book would be the great missionary tool for the gathering of Israel, and that many of the House of Israel would receive its message and come unto Christ. But he also knew that many in the latter-day Church of Jesus Christ would be like Amulek: well-to-do, well-known, from pioneer ancestry, complacent, lukewarm, and reluctant to become truly converted to the Lord. Mormon knew that many potentially great servants of God would be self-satisfied, pacified, and lulled into carnal security. Mormon knew that such men and women, like the ancient Israelites who supposed that their connection to Abraham was a guarantee of salvation, would need a wake up call from someone to whom they could relate.
Enter Amulek. And remember Elder Uchtdorf’s penetrating questions: “What can I learn from Alma?” and “How am I like Amulek?”
Listen to Amulek’s own description of his complacency and let’s see if we identify with it in any way:
Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his amysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.
Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was acalled many times and I would not bhear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling cagainst God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges. (Alma 10:5-6)
This reminds me very much of something that Elder Packer taught frequently, namely that the Church has done a great job of ordaining men to the priesthood, but a less than adequate job of encouraging real power in the priesthood:
We have done very well at distributing the authority of the priesthood. We have priesthood authority planted nearly everywhere. We have quorums of elders and high priests worldwide. But distributing the authority of the priesthood has raced, I think, ahead of distributing the power of the priesthood. The priesthood does not have the strength that it should have and will not have until the power of the priesthood is firmly fixed in the families as it should be.
Another way to put this is that the Church has done very well at creating and replicating Amuleks. These are generally good people who love their comforts and their careers and who blend in well with the world, even in modern cities that are wicked enough to make Ammonihah seem like the City of Enoch. These are the doctors, dentists, lawyers, government employees, business men, professors, computer programmers, and other professionals with networks and connections, with wealth and prestige, who are in the Church but not of the Church. These are the good people who have gone to BYU or BYU Hawaii, served missions, married in the Temple, and even serve as bishops and stake presidents, but whose hearts are hardened in rebellion against God and have never known much of the ways of the Lord, and his amysteries and marvelous power. Or, like Amulek, they have seen much of the Lord’s mysteries and his marvelous power and have known much without really knowing. These are potentially mighty servants of God who have been acalled many times but do not bhear.
Elder Uchtdorf’s questions reverberate in my heart again: “What can I learn from Alma?” and “How am I like Amulek?”
Elder Uchtdorf aimed the first question at past, current, and future leaders of the Church, gleaning the following lessons from Alma:
Alma was an exceptionally gifted and capable man. It may have been easy to think that he did not need anyone’s help. Nevertheless, what did Alma do when he returned to Ammonihah?
Alma found Amulek and asked him for help.
And Alma received help.
For whatever reason, sometimes we as leaders are reluctant to find and ask our Amuleks. Perhaps we think that we can do the work better by ourselves, or we are reluctant to inconvenience others, or we assume that others would not want to participate. Too often we hesitate to invite people to use their God-given talents and engage in the great work of salvation.
Think of the Savior—did He begin to establish His Church all alone?
No.
His message was not “Stand back. I’ll handle this.” Rather it was “Come, follow me.”9 He inspired, invited, instructed, and then trusted His followers “to do the things which ye have seen me do.”10 In this way, Jesus Christ built up not only His Church but also His servants.
In whatever position you currently serve—whether you are a deacons quorum president, a stake president, or an Area President—to be successful, you must find your Amuleks.
It may be someone who is unassuming or even invisible within your congregations. It may be someone who seems unwilling or unable to serve. Your Amuleks may be young or old, men or women, inexperienced, tired, or not active in the Church. But what may not be seen at first sight is that they are hoping to hear from you the words “The Lord needs you! I need you!”
Deep down, many want to serve their God. They want to be an instrument in His hands. They want to thrust in their sickle and strive with their might to prepare the earth for the return of our Savior. They want to build His Church. But they are reluctant to begin. Often they wait to be asked.
I invite you to think of those in your branches and wards, in your missions and stakes, who need to hear a call to action. The Lord has been working with them—preparing them, softening their hearts. Find them by seeing with your heart.
Reach out to them. Teach them. Inspire them. Ask them.
Share with them the words of the angel to Amulek—that the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon them and their house.11 You may be surprised to discover a valiant servant of the Lord who otherwise would have remained hidden.
Amazing counsel from a true disciple and messenger of Jesus Christ.
Elder Uchtdorf’s inspired answer to his second question is also noteworthy:
Perhaps you have, over the years, become less committed in your discipleship. Perhaps the fire of your testimony has dimmed. Perhaps you have distanced yourself from the body of Christ. Perhaps you have become disillusioned or even angry. Like some of the ancient Church of Ephesus, you may have left your “first love”12—the sublime, eternal truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Perhaps, like Amulek, you know in your heart that the Lord has “called [you] many times,” but you “would not hear.”
Nevertheless, the Lord sees in you what He saw in Amulek—the potential of a valiant servant with an important work to do and with a testimony to share. There is service that no one else can give in quite the same way. The Lord has trusted you with His holy priesthood, which holds the divine potential to bless and lift others. Listen with your heart and follow the promptings of the Spirit.
My goodness, Mormon was inspired, and his record speaks from the dust to us today.
I get a kick out of the timing of Amulek’s conversion:
Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was acalled many times and I would not bhear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling cagainst God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges. (Alma 10:6)
Of course the Nephite calendar is different from our own, but superimposing Amulek’s calendar upon our Gregorian calendar, Amulek’s conversion began on the 4th of July. 😊
Whoever the angel was who appeared to Amulek, he was a very active angel in leading the Nephites to Christ. Perhaps it was the angel Lehi or the angel Nephi. Who knows? Whoever it was, this angel was instrumental in Amulek’s mighty change of heart.
Remember that these are Amulek’s own words as recorded in the Book of Alma that Mormon chose to quote directly, and remember that Amulek spoke these words as a second witness next to Alma as they testified and preached repentance to the wicked people of Ammonihah.
Of course, the people of Ammonihah considered themselves to be very righteous. They were a powerful and sophisticated people. They were a prosperous and wealthy people. They were annoyed that one man, Alma, would disturb their peace and try to shake them out of their complacency, but they were astonished when one of their own backed up Alma’s testimony. Many of the people of Ammonihah were angry, and the most cunning among them began attempted to ensnare Alma and Amulek in their words. They had been trained in this way, with cunning devices, so that they could use the law against whomever they wanted to ensnare, with the ultimate purpose of making more money. Their object was to get gain. Alma and Amulek’s object was to do the will of God.
Mosiah’s wise system of the reign of the judges had degenerated and been corrupted in the city of Ammonihah. Mormon indicates that the lawyers among them were particularly to blame, and Amulek even testifies that unrighteous lawyers and judges are at the root of the problem:
And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the adestruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the bunrighteousness of your clawyers and your judges. (Alma 10:27)
I have many good friends who are good lawyers, but all of these rebukes of lawyers reminds me of a favorite quotation (see also here, and here) from one of the greatest good lawyers of all time, Abraham Lincoln:
There is a vague popular belief that lawyers are necessarily dishonest. I say vague, because when we consider to what extent confidence and honors are reposed in and conferred upon lawyers by the people, it appears improbable that their impression of dishonesty is very distinct and vivid. Yet the impression is common, almost universal. Let no young man choosing the law for a calling for a moment yield to the popular belief - resolve to be honest at all events; and if in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation, rather than one in the choosing of which you do, in advance, consent to be a knave."
Ammonihah was not just infested with dishonest knaves, it was infested with unrighteous, cunning, crafty, and deceptive lawyers whose hearts were set on filthy lucre:
Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and acunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession. (Alma 10:15)
Think of the arts and cunning of the people today, and the ways that people are taught to be skillful in their professions in order to get gain. Isn’t that basically what most of higher education is all about nowadays? There’s nothing inherently wrong with being skillful, or being skillful in a profession, unless of course the whole purpose and aim of the skill is to use cunning and artifice to the detriment and at the expense of others in order to accumulate wealth.
Amulek understood this problem from the inside. He was an inhabitant of Ammonihah who had acquired much riches by the hand of his industry. He was in the know and part of the inner circles. Amulek knew what these cunning lawyers were up to. He perceived their designs and rebuked them with the word and power of God:
Now they knew not that Amulek could aknow of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he bperceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse cgeneration, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying dtraps and snares to catch the holy ones of God.
Ye are laying plans to apervert the ways of the righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even to the utter destruction of this people.
Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come that the voice of this people should achoose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction.
And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord ajudge of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice of his bangels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels that: aI will come down among my people, with equity and justice in my hands.
Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the aprayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by bflood, as were the people in the days of cNoah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the dsword.
But it is by the aprayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will bcast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the ctime is soon at hand except ye repent. (Alma 10:17-23)
Thank goodness for the prayers of the righteous, and thank goodness for the gift of repentance. Thank goodness that Amulek obeyed the angel, fed Alma, and prepared to preach repentance to the people of Ammonihah. Thank goodness the Mormon included Amulek and his teachings in his abridgment of the large plates of Nephi.
Naturally, many of the people of Ammonihah were not happy with Amulek’s testimony. They reacted much like King Noah and his wicked priests had reacted to Abinadi’s testimony. Although they didn’t kill Alma and Amulek on the spot, one of the most expert among them began to accuse and to tempt Alma and Amulek. Thus Mormon introduces to yet another one of the most fascinating characters in the Book of Mormon, and a man with a memorable name: Zeezrom.